Plate c. 1820

This plate was made at the Wedgwood Manufactory, probably in England, though we don’t have a specific date. The botanical decoration speaks to a key trend in late 18th and 19th-century British culture, where scientific interests mixed with aesthetic ones. The image creates meaning through the visual codes of floral representation, linking the plate to the broader cultural context of botanical illustration and scientific classification. The growth of science happened alongside the growth of empire. Educated Britons classified and displayed botanical specimens from around the world, reflecting the power of the British Empire. Meanwhile, the fashion for botanical imagery allowed this imperial project to reach into the domestic sphere. Understanding art like this plate requires us to explore these social and institutional contexts. By researching the history of science, empire, and decorative arts, we can gain insight into the complex cultural forces that shaped its creation.